Veterans Day 2012

Parade-goers wave flags and hold messages as units pass by in the Veterans Day Parade in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

A trumpeter plays taps during Veterans Day ceremonies at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

Cadets hold flags before the start of the Veterans Day Parade in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and Acting postmaster at St. Louis, Cathy Vaughn unveil a new “forever” stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service— honoring America’s Purple Heart Medal recipients, in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

UPI/Bill Greenblatt file photo

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

Korean War veterans salute during opening ceremonies of the Veterans Day parade at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Korean War veterans salute during opening ceremonies of the Veterans Day parade at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. Photo: UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

A young parade-goer shows off signs she has made as units pass by in the Veterans Day Parade in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

Heavy equipment moves down Market Street during the Veterans Day Parade in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

Parade-goers hold a sign thanking veterans during the Veterans Day Parade in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

Civil Way renactors fire their weapons during the Veterans Day Parade in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

Former U.S. Marine Rocky Sickman passes out wristbands as he marches in the Veterans Day Parade in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. Sickman was one of the hostages held in Iran 444 days starting in November of 1979. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

A parade-goer finds another way of displaying her American flag while she holds her dog while units pass in the Veterans Day Parade in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

Parade-goers hold a Welcome Home banner as units pass by in the Veterans Day Parade in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

Parade-goers wave American flags and hold signs as units pass by in the Veterans Day Parade in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

An American bald eagle named Lewis is silhouetted as he leads the Veterans Day Parade in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

Veterans carry an over-sized American flag in the Veterans Day Parade in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veterans Day Parade in St. LouisUPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

A parade-goer waves an American flag as units pass by in the Veterans Day Parade in downtown St. Louis on November 10, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Photo: UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

The 29th annual St. Louis Regional Veterans Day Observance was held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis. (KMOX/Brad Choat)

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

The 29th annual St. Louis Regional Veterans Day Observance was held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis. (KMOX/Brad Choat)

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

The 29th annual St. Louis Regional Veterans Day Observance was held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis. (KMOX/Brad Choat)

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

The 29th annual St. Louis Regional Veterans Day Observance was held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis. (KMOX/Brad Choat)

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

The 29th annual St. Louis Regional Veterans Day Observance was held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis. (KMOX/Brad Choat)

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

The 29th annual St. Louis Regional Veterans Day Observance was held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis. (KMOX/Brad Choat)

Rear Admiral William A. Brown was a guest speaker and one of the parade grand marshals.

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

The 29th annual St. Louis Regional Veterans Day Observance was held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis. (KMOX/Brad Choat)

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

The 29th annual St. Louis Regional Veterans Day Observance was held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis. (KMOX/Brad Choat)

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

The 29th annual St. Louis Regional Veterans Day Observance was held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis. (KMOX/Brad Choat)

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

The 29th annual St. Louis Regional Veterans Day Observance was held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis. (KMOX/Brad Choat)

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

The 29th annual St. Louis Regional Veterans Day Observance was held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis. (KMOX/Brad Choat)

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

The 29th annual St. Louis Regional Veterans Day Observance was held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis. (KMOX/Brad Choat)

A construction worker has a good view of the Veterans Day Parade in downtown St. Louis.

Veterans Day Parade in St. Louis

The 29th annual St. Louis Regional Veterans Day Observance was held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis. (KMOX/Brad Choat)